In late 2009 we travelled for 15 nights on Celebrity Infinity on a repositioning cruise, from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso, which included transit through the Panama Canal. We had a Royal suite, butler, pre-purchased two wine packages, and ate six times in the SS United States speciality restaurant. Flights via Air France, one night's accommodation in Fort Lauderdale, and all transfers were arranged through Celebrity and included in the price.
In June 2011 we travelled 14 nights on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth from Southampton around the Baltic. We had a Queens Grills Suite, butler, no wine packages were available, and we never ate in any speciality restaurants. There were no air flights, accommodation or transfers.
The Queen Elizabeth cruise was double the total cost of the Celebrity cruise, but was it double the value?